English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Watcombe Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Beckley

Historical Forms

  • Wescumbe 1248 Ass
  • Wetescumbe 1279 Ass
  • Weatcumbe, Watecombe, Wettecumbe 1279 Ass
  • Watchecumbe 1296 SR
  • Vezcumbe 1327 SR
  • Wetecoumbe, Wytecumbe 1332 SR

Etymology

Watcombe Fm is Wescumbe 1248Ass , Wetescumbe 1279Ass , Weatcumbe , Watecombe , Wettecumbe 1279Ass (p), Watchecumbe 1296 SR (p), Vezcumbe 1327 SR, Wetecoumbe , Wytecumbe 1332 SR (p). The forms forbid our interpreting this as hwǣte -cumb 'wheat-valley.' Perhaps it is Hwætes -cumb , 'Hwæt 's valley.'For this pers. name cf. Whatlington supra 500.

Places in the same Parish